5 plastic devices supporting diabetes care
Here at MPN we’ve been looking at the way medical plastics are helping people with diabetes manage their illness.
We looked at everything, from devices that use plastics for casings, to devices that use plastic mounts for computer chips. The devices in this list cover innovative developments from more traditional glucose measuring, to preventing hypoglycaemia, to measuring glucose levels in tears.
Follow our countdown to discover our top five plastic devices for diabetics.
5. MiniMed Connect and App
Medtronic's MiniMed Connect, which can be placed in a person's pocket, wirelessly collects data from the insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring device. A related Samsung app will allow the diabetes patient to view their blood glucose levels and other related information straight from their smartphone instead of having to check the data from the body worn pump and separate glucose monitoring receiver.
4. Gluco Duo
Gluco Duo consists of both a vastly improved glucose meter (operable by simply opening the cap and pushing on a pad, with no need for fiddly test strips or a separate finger pricker) and a connected insulin pen, which work seamlessly together via a custom app. The days of recording glucose readings and insulin doses may be over, Gluco Duo works like you'd expect a 21st century device to – automatically.
3. MiniMed 640G
Medtronic’s MiniMed 640G uses SmartGuard technology to automatically stop insulin delivery before glucose levels are predicted to reach a dangerously low limit within a 30 minute period, therefore avoiding a hypoglycaemia before it happens. It can then resume insulin delivery once dropping glucose levels recover so a rebound high sugar attack is avoided.
2. Quell
Quell utilizes NeuroMetrix’s proprietary non-invasive neurostimulation technology to provide relief from chronic pain which can be caused by diabetes. The advanced wearable device is lightweight and can be worn during the day while active, and at night while sleeping. It has been cleared by the FDA for treatment of chronic pain without a prescription.
1. Smart Contact Lens
Alcon and Google Inc. are testing a prototype for a smart contact lens that they built to measure glucose in tears using a wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor. The smart lens technology involves non-invasive sensors, microchips and other miniaturized electronics which are embedded within contact lenses. They hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.